Friday, October 4, 2013

Some Important Details About Fire Retardant Coatings

By Rhea Solomon


Fire retardant coatings are used in buildings and other surfaces to stop, control or slow down the rate of spread of flames. Fires keep on claiming property worth millions and lives of people in most parts of the world. This calls for people and the government to take measures that keep citizens safe from such a menace. One way is by meeting some set building standards to curb spread of fires.

Any material that has high potential of catching flames should be treated with a flame retardant substance. These include, but not limited to, plastics, textiles, wood and some metals. Of importance is to note that there are no completely incombustible substances in the market. What this kind of paint does is hinder flames from starting, by raising the threshold required to ignite or slow the rate of burning so that firefighters can take action

Prevention and limitation of spread of fires plays a key role in reducing damages and casualties as a result of an inferno. Most consumers do not know that some items they use are coated with the said paints to reduce chances of catching flames. Some of these include electronics and electrical appliances, like dryers, which can easily go into flames during use in case of an electricity fault.

What every buyer should note is that flame retardant paints are very specific to the product or material they are used on. This is because of the nature and chemical composition of different products that makes them react differently during combustion. For this reason, manufacturers come up with a variety of products to hinder combustion depending on chemical composition of a material. This means buyers cannot interchange flame retardant products and expect to get effective results with the coatings.

In this case, talk to a qualified professional and have them guide you during the process of choosing a suitable coating. Besides, they are aware of the set fire protection codes for buildings and other materials thus they are in the best position to help you. Any effective coating need not alter the functions of the coated item.

Modern homes are at higher risks of flame break out and thus require protection. This is because of the increase in use of risky items like electronics and electrical appliances, among others. This calls for builders and home owners to follow set guidelines to reduce the risks. Flame resistant paintings come in handy in such cases.

The chemical industry has developed various paints for use in different situations. Most building and construction materials, furnishings, transport mediums like trains, airplanes and automobiles form major areas where the paints are widely used. There could be an increase in demand for such chemical products as technology advances.

Any application is done after consultation with the home owner, architects, engineers and other specialists to ensure that painters attain the required standards. Find out from your local fire department what is required of you too. Today, it is greatly beneficial for people to use fire retardant coatings if they are to curb serious dangers posed by this hazard. Their effect to slow down ignition, prevent spread or stop flames is a great way to save lives and property either in a commercial or residential setup.




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